There are new rumblings that The Matrix is still set to be rebooted, under the auspices of the Wachowskis. Per Discussing Film:
Huh. Could be...interesting. Especially if the Wachowskis learned from their experiences of doing the original trilogy (as well as from their growth as filmmakers with such ambitious projects as Cloud Atlas and Sense8). I see the potential for something different. Call me cautiously optimistic.
Some rumors I say last night are claiming that this is a prequel and that Jordan will be playing a young Morpheus.
I hope not. If they're going to do a prequel at least let it be one of the crazier early matrices. One of the ones with phantoms and werewolves and all that jazz.
Besides, hasn't the young Morpheus prequel rumour circulated before? It sounds like something I've heard about at some point at least.
I'd like to see a Matrix prequel trilogy with the first film covering how the machines took over the planet, the second movie dealing with early versions of the matrix and the third the early days of Morpheus maybe. Then again I'm a massive fan of the Matrix sequels so what do I know?
It'd be like doing a movie about the 100 Years War. It's too involved, unfocused, unwieldy, featuring too many disconnected characters and overall just too *big* fit into a movie. I mean it spans like half a century. You could try to fit it all in, but it'd be boring, which is saying something for a Matrix movie. The animated shorts are the optimal format to summarise such a wide ranging story. The best you can do it pick a particular story (like say B1-66ER's) to adapt, or invent a new character and just use a certain point in the Second Renaissance war as a backdrop. But that wouldn't be telling the story any more than 'Saving Private Ryan' or 'Letters from Iwo Jima' tells the story of WWII.
Oddly, I just rewatched the first one last night. It still holds up quite nicely. Other than cash, why reboot it? AI and virtual reality aren't so foreign anymore. The visuals have become such a part of movie storytelling they are cliche. The twist is well known at this point... what's left? The brand name? Meh. And I can't say I'm interested in going over other corners of the universe. The second and third movies burned away any of that interest.